Service connection is granted for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right hip disability, and left hip disability. Service connection is denied for headaches claimed as due to undiagnosed illness and an upper body rash (xerosis) claimed as due to undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's current conditions are not related to service.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records do not show any chronic back, hip or skin conditions. The VA examiner found that the current degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and right and left hips are at least as likely as not related to combat service.,The Veteran's recent statements about his headaches and rash are inconsistent with his specific denials during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, Right hip disability, Left hip disability, Headaches, Upper body rash (xerosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19190294
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19190294.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
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